Filed under: Books, Children | Tags: book review, books, Christmas, cookies, recipes
Cookies and Books
There are few nicer things to do in winter, at least to this Librarian’s mind, then curling up with cookies you made with family, a warm drink, and a good book. So let’s all bake some cookies together and find some perfect books for the season!
The Book:
The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is a hilarious story about finding new perspectives on familiar events and people. The Herdman kids are famous in town for their rudeness, bad behavior, and roughness and now they’re the stars of the nativity play. Can the small town survive a little girl angel who likes to beat people up, three wise brothers with their own ideas of proper gifts, and the toughest meanest girl 5th grade has ever seen as Mary? The book will certainly turn conceptions on their ears. At times uproariously funny and other times sincerely sweet this book makes a wonderful book to read as a family or a great book for fourth and fifth graders to read alone. This is a treat for the holiday season.
The Cookies:
A book about bad kids doing good things deserves a perfectly dark and sweet cookie that’s so good it is bad for those kids who act bad but are good. This is a great treat for using up extra nuts, dried fruit or chips from other recipes and fitting personal tastes.
Coal Cookies (with all regards to King Arthur Flour)
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Prepare two baking sheets or trays for the oven.
1/2 cup unsalted butter (make sure to take it out the night before so it is easier to work with) 1 1/3 cups brown sugar 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour (Do NOT pack it down) 2 cups (12 ounces) of filler which can be dried fruit, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, crushed candy canes or a mixture of all the above.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Add the eggs, beating until smooth. Slowly to avoid spraying the material stir in the cocoa powder, then the flour; the dough will be stiff. When fully integrated mix in the filler.
Drop the dough in tablespoon blobs onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes they’ll look not-quite-done in the center. That’s what makes them coal. Remove them from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool for about 10 minutes. Gently squeeze and shape the cookies into uneven balls, to resemble chunks of coal.
Makes a delightful 3 dozen to have with milk or coffee and an excellent book.
Note: Cookies stay fresh at room temperature no longer than a week. For extended storage, bake & freeze immediately to serve later.
CSV_Children’s Services Staff_DF
Filed under: Books | Tags: books, cookbook, cooking, entertaining, food, holiday, recipes
The holiday season is here! It’s full steam ahead with all of the shopping, entertaining and cooking so many of us do during such a busy time of year. For some of us (like the young lady I helped at the information desk the other day), it’s our first time hosting the family’s holiday bash. Others are “old hands” at this holiday entertaining thing, but they want new recipes for their upcoming parties.
The cookbook section in our library is one of the most heavily used sections. Our cookbooks are shelved starting in the 641.5 call number range in the adult, children’s and new books areas. Feel free to browse – and of course if you can’t find exactly what you need, ask a librarian at the information desk. We’re always happy to help.
To get you started here are some great Holiday Cooking titles for you to check out. Clicking any of the pictures will bring you to the library’s catalog entry.
This children’s cookbook talks a little bit about different holiday traditions around the world, basic kitchen safety, cooking tips, and a glossary. Most recipes include a preface that tells budding young cooks about the holiday that particular recipe celebrates. Countries and regions represented include Italy, Africa, Poland, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, Russia and more. (J641.568 HOLIDAY)
Looking at the recipes in this book is making me hungry! Menus for easy “down home” cooking are included for every month of the year. Do you need ideas for Super Bowl Sunday? Or maybe a new baby is coming home? The Neely’s have ideas for you! (642.4 NEELY)
The editors of American Profile Magazine asked their readers to submit their favorite holiday recipes. More than 250 cherished recipes and memories are included in this book. (641.568 HOMETOWN)
Filed under: Libraries, News, Programs | Tags: books, donations, fines, Food 4 Fines, Food Drive
FOOD 4 FINES
One of 3 Ways to Give
December 17 – 31, 2011
To provide food for both body and mind, the Alameda County Library is partnering with the Alameda County Community Food Bank to bring Food 4 Fines to Alameda County Library card holders. From December 17 – 31, for each non-perishable food item brought to the library $1.00 will be subtracted from overdue fines to a maximum of $10. We recognize that due to high fines or unreturned materials, some customers are not able to use the library. This program serves a two-fold purpose – to help customers return to the library and help meet the needs of so many hungry neighbors.
Jean Hofacket, Director of the Alameda County Library, said: “Libraries are a vital part of our communities, connecting those in Alameda County with options for learning, coming together and to play. We are very happy to continue this tradition by providing an opportunity to make this holiday time brighter for all through Food 4 Fines.’’
“The County is making it easier to return overdue books while also helping the needy,” said Nate Miley, President of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. ” Through the charitable program we hope to feed many hungry families this holiday season.”
Added Susan S. Muranishi, Alameda County Administrator: “Food 4 Fines is a great idea that is in keeping with the Alameda County Library’s long tradition of engaging library users and harnessing their support to help the larger community. It also is one of many examples of how Alameda County strives to come up with new ideas to improve the way we serve our residents.’’
The Alameda County Library system services a community of over 500,000 customers; the Alameda County Community Food Bank serves over 49,000 people each week. Together we can make a difference!
Traditional barrel drives are now a key source for high demand non-perishable items like peanut butter, canned tuna and meat, beans, rice, low-sodium soups and stews and low-sugar cereal. Only non-perishable, unexpired, store-sealed items will be accepted. No glass, please!
Libraries participating are:
|
AlbanyLibrary (510-526-3720) |
Castro ValleyLibrary (510-667-7900) |
| 1247 Marin Ave.,Albany,CA 94706 | 3600 Norbridge Rd.,Castro Valley,CA 94546 |
|
CentervilleLibrary (510-795-2629) |
DublinLibrary (925-828-1315) |
| 3801 Nicolet Ave.,Fremont,CA 94536 | 200 Civic Plaza Dr.,Dublin, CA 94568 |
|
FremontMain Library (510-745-1400) |
IrvingtonLibrary (510-795-2631) |
| 2450 Stevenson Blvd.,Fremont,CA 94538 | 41825 Greenpark,Fremont,CA 94538 |
|
NewarkLibrary (510-795-2627) |
NilesLibrary (510-795-2626) |
| 6300 Civic Terrace Ave.,Newark, CA 94560 | 150 “I” St.,Fremont,CA 94536 |
|
San LorenzoLibrary (510-670-6283) |
Union CityLibrary (510-745-1464) |
| 395 Paseo Grande,San Lorenzo,CA 94580 | 34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd.,Union City,CA 94587 |
Please call for open hours or check our website.
Food 4 Fines is one of the 3 Ways to Donate. We will be accepting food donations through January 31 – or you can make a virtual donation via credit card by visiting our website at http://www.aclibrary.org.
Filed under: Books, Children, Libraries, Programs | Tags: book club, book lists, books, Children, programs, read, reading, resources
Castro Valley Library 